Michael Brown, left, is out as director of FEMA; tapped to replace him is David Paulison, head of FEMA's emergency preparedness force.

AP file, June 2005

"This was a catastrophic disaster, and in every disaster, there are mistakes, and it's not always smooth and pretty," Brown said of Hurricane Katrina. "I'm at ease knowing I was doing everything I could."

Bush named R. David Paulison to replace Brown. Paulison has led FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration since December 2001, according to a biography posted on FEMA's Web site. He led FEMA's emergency preparedness force in 2003-04 and is a former Miami firefighter. (Related story: Ex-firefighter takes over)

Brown had been under fire for what his critics, including Democratic Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, called a failure to get federal help to victims of Katrina fast enough.

Brown's limited experience in disaster relief was an issue, too. Before joining FEMA in 2001, Brown was head of the International Arabian Horse Association.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan praised Brown's work but did not mention Katrina. "The president appreciates Mike Brown's service," he said. "Mike has done a lot of great work on a number of hurricanes."

Bush was in New Orleans, viewing the disaster area in an open truck that sloshed through flooded, stench-filled neighborhoods caked in mud.

"My impression of New Orleans is this: that there is a recovery on the way," Bush said.

The Army Corps of Engineers said the fixing of two major pumps meant the city will be drained by Oct. 8, ahead of schedule. Nearly two-thirds of Louisiana's water treatment plants had restarted, and the city's airport plans to resume passenger service today.

Bush rebuked those criticizing the response to what he called America's worst natural disaster. "There will be plenty of time to play the blame game," he said.

The confirmed death toll in Louisiana rose to 279 on the news that 45 bodies had been found in a flooded hospital in New Orleans. It was not known how many of those people died before Katrina hit.